On a recent trip to Victoria, British Columbia, I noticed that trash cans and utility boxes in the downtown core were decorated with historical photos of Vitcoria's past. It seems a great way to turn an eyesore into art (or at least make it something interesting to look at).
Might Kirkland benefit from such a plan? In downtown, every intersection has a large, ugly gray utility box placed on the sidewalk. They usually are placed near the sidewalk so utility workers can easily see the traffic signals when they work. Unfortunately, that means that everyday pedestrians have to see these eyesores every time they cross a street.
Other cities paint their utility boxes or cover them in historic photos.
Should Kirkland do the same?